Elise Strahan saved her best at-bat for last in Perry’s 6-4 win over Mogadore Field in a Division IV regional semifinal at Dalton High School on Wednesday.
With her team trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Strahan launched a three-run homer over the fence in center field, sending the Pirates to their first regional championship game in school history.
“It was definitely a heart-stopping moment,” Strahan said. “Our team is so amazing and supportive, and I feel so proud to be able to come up and get the job done in a big situation.”
The Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Arianna Rogers and Rosalyn Tharp hit back-to-back two-out singles, and Morgan Winters and Sydney Collins followed with back-to-back RBI singles.
Field answered with one run on two hits in the second, cutting Perry’s lead in half.
The Pirates added another run in the fifth.
Sophie Sivon reached on an error and moved to second on Madeline Infalvi’s sacrifice bunt. Rogers delivered a clutch two-out RBI single, increasing Perry’s lead to 3-1.
The Falcons answered with a two-run game-tying homer in the top of the sixth, and they took a 4-3 lead with another run in the seventh, setting up Strahan’s walk-off homer in the bottom half of the inning.
Sivon singled and Infalvi drew a walk before Strahan stepped into the batter’s box.
“Coming in, I was feeling good knowing that Sophie and Maddie were able to get on, and it took a little pressure off me for sure,” Strahan said. “Knowing how smart and quick they both are, I was just trying to keep it simple and get a base hit or something that allowed Sophie to tag up and advance. I didn’t feel too nervous because I know who I’ve got behind me in the lineup, and I’ve been practicing for that situation my whole life, so I felt confident that I could make something happen.”
Strahan took a first-pitch strike and then fouled off three of the next four pitches before launching the final pitch of the game over the fence.
“The pitch I saw was middle out,” she said. “I have been working on my outside (pitches) these past few weeks, and I knew that was the one I wanted to drive. It felt solid, but I wasn’t quite sure it was over until I saw Coach (Roy) Infalvi celebrating. When I realized it was gone, I felt amazing, and I was immediately pretty emotional because we have put so much work into this season, and it means the world to me to be able to come up strong under pressure.”
Strahan finished the game 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Winters went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, and Rogers was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Infalvi, Tharp, Collins, and Sivon each collected one hit for the Pirates, who improved to 21-8.
Sivon went the distance in the circle. She allowed four earned runs on nine hits and struck out three.
With the win, the Pirates advanced to Friday’s regional championship game at Dalton, where they will face the winner of the Elyria Catholic/Cortland Lakeview regional semifinal. That game was suspended due to inclement weather and will be completed on Thursday.
“We will approach the next game like we have every one before,” Strahan said. “We make sure to play our game, and we know that we can compete with anyone. We are working hard and enjoying every moment we spend together on this historic run we are making.”
